System and method for entering characters on a radio tuner interface

Abstract

A system and method for entering characters that form a radio station channel and tune in a radio station channel on a radio tuner interface includes a touch screen display which displays a radio tuner interface. The radio tuner interface includes a plurality of character keys on a keypad that can be enabled or disabled to allow a user to touch input an available AM, FM, or satellite radio station channel that is in broadcast range of the location in which the vehicle is located.

1 . A method for entering characters that form a radio station channel and tune in a radio station on a radio tuner user interface for a vehicle, comprising:
 operating the radio tuner user interface to select radio stations on a plurality of bands based on user inputs associated with a plurality of enabled and disabled character keys on a user interface keypad;   enabling and disabling the plurality of character keys on the keypad prior to an input of the first character of a radio station channel based on at least one of the following: the user selection of the band or a plurality of characters that correspond to a first character of radio station channels;   enabling and disabling the plurality of character keys on the keypad prior to subsequent input of characters that form a radio station channel based on at least one of the following: the user selection of the band, precedent user input of the plurality of enabled character keys, or the plurality of characters that form radio station channels; and   tuning of radio stations based on receiving user input of the plurality of enabled character keys that form radio station channels.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further including controlling the enabling and disabling of the plurality of character keys on the keypad as a user inputs characters that form radio channels based on at least one of the following: locally stored data of characters associated to characters that form available radio station channels that are in broadcast range of the location in which the vehicle is located, externally stored data of characters associated to characters that form available radio station channels that are in broadcast range of the location in which the vehicle is located, or live scanning data of characters associated to characters that form radio station channels that are in broadcast range of the location in which the vehicle is located. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the enabling and disabling of the plurality of character keys on the keypad that forms a first character of a radio station channel is based on at least one of the following: the user selection of the band or the plurality of characters that forms a first active character of radio station channels that are in broadcast range of the location in which the vehicle is located. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the enabling and disabling of the plurality of character keys on the keypad that form a second character of a radio station channel is based on at least one of the following: a user's first input of the plurality of enabled character keys or a plurality of second characters of radio station channels that are in broadcast range of the location in which the vehicle is located. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the enabling and disabling of the plurality of character keys on the keypad that form a third character of a radio station is based on the following: the user's selection of the FM band, the user's first input of the plurality of enabled character keys is a numeral one character key, or a plurality of third characters of radio station channels that are in broadcast range of the location in which the vehicle is located. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein a zero is automatically added as a third and last character of an AM radio station channel based on one the following: the user's selection of the AM band mode, the user's first input of the plurality of enabled keys is not a numeral one, or a corresponding AM radio station channel that is in broadcast range of the location in which the vehicle is located that contains a fourth and final character values of zero. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the enabling and disabling of the plurality of character keys on the keypad that form a third character and final character of a radio station channel is based on at least one of the following: the user's first input of the plurality of enabled character keys, the user's second input of the plurality of enabled character keys, or the plurality of third characters of FM radio station channels that are in broadcast range of the location in which the vehicle is located. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the enabling and disabling of the plurality of character keys on the keypad that form a fourth character of a FM radio station is based on the following: the user's selection of the FM band mode, the user's first input of the plurality of enabled character keys is a one character key, the user's third input of the plurality of enabled keys, the channel being inputted is a four character channel, or a plurality of fourth characters of FM radio station channels that are in broadcast range of the location in which the vehicle is located. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a zero is automatically added as a fourth last character of an AM radio station channel based on one the following: the user's selection of the AM band mode, the user's first input of the plurality of enabled keys, the user's second input of the plurality of enabled keys, the user's third input of the plurality of enabled keys, or a corresponding AM radio station channel that is in broadcast range of the location in which the vehicle is located that contains a fourth and final character values of zero. 
     
     
         10 . A system for entering characters that form a radio station channel and tune in of a radio station on a radio tuner user interface for a vehicle, comprising:
 a keypad with a plurality of character keys that can be enabled or disabled;   a character key processing module for determining characters that form radio station channels and a sequence of user inputs on the plurality of character keys on the keypad that form radio station channels in broadcasting range of a location in which a vehicle is located;   at least one user interface touch screen display which is operatively connected to the keypad and radio tuner interface for displaying radio station channel characters;   at least one radio tuner which tunes in radio stations on a band; and   a character key enabling and disabling module for enabling or disabling the plurality of character keys on the keypad based on at least one of the following: a user input for selection of a band, user input of the plurality of enabled character keys that form a radio station channel, a plurality of characters that form radio station channels.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the character key enabling and disabling module conducts a character key enabling/disabling feature which enables a plurality of character keys on the keypad and activates the functionality of the enabled plurality of character keys on the keypad, and disables a plurality of character keys on the keypad and deactivates the functionality of disabled plurality of character keys on the keypad. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the character key processing module provides data to the character key enabling and disabling feature based on at least one of the following: the user input on the band input selection button for selection of the band, a plurality of channels of radio stations that are contained in internal memory and form a plurality of channels of radio stations that are in broadcast range of the location in which the vehicle is located, a plurality of channels of radio stations that are contained in external memory and form a plurality of channels of radio stations that are in broadcast range of the location in which the vehicle is located, a plurality of channels of radio stations that are contained in an external database, or a plurality of channels of radio stations that are found a live scanning component and form a plurality of channels of radio stations that are in broadcast range of the location in which the vehicle is located. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the character key enabling and disabling module conducts the character key enabling and disabling feature based on at least the following: the user input on the band input selection button for selection of band or a plurality of characters that form a first active character of radio station channels that are in broadcast range of the location in which the vehicle is located. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the character key enabling and disabling module conducts the character key enabling and disabling feature based on the following: the user's first input of the plurality of enabled character keys on the keypad or a plurality of second characters of radio station channels that are in broadcast range of the location in which the vehicle is located. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the character key enabling and disabling module conducts the character key enabling and disabling feature based on at least one of the following: the user's first input of the plurality of enabled character keys on the keypad, a user's second input of the plurality of enabled character keys on the keypad, or the plurality of third characters of radio station channels that are in broadcast range of the location in which the vehicle is located. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the character key enabling and disabling module conducts the character key enabling and disabling feature based on at least one of the following: the user's selection of the FM band mode, the user's first input of the plurality of enabled character keys is a numeral one character key, the user's third input of the plurality of enabled keys, the channel being inputted is a four character channel, or a plurality of fourth characters of FM radio station channels that are in broadcast range of the location in which the vehicle is located. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the radio tuner interface system adds a last character or characters of an AM radio station channel based on one the following: the user's selection of the AM band mode, the user's second input of the plurality of enabled keys, the user's third input of the plurality of enabled keys, a corresponding AM radio station channel that is in broadcast range of the location in which the vehicle is located that contains a third and final character value of zero, or a corresponding AM radio station channel that is in broadcast range of the location in which the vehicle is located that contains fourth and final character value of zero. 
     
     
         18 . A computer readable medium comprising instructions that when executed by a processor perform actions comprising:
 operating the radio tuner user interface to select radio stations on a plurality of bands based on user inputs associated with a plurality of enabled and disabled character keys on a user interface keypad;   enabling and disabling the plurality of character keys on the keypad prior to an input of the first character of a radio station channel based on at least one of the following: the user selection of the band or a plurality of characters that correspond to a first character of radio station channels;   enabling and disabling the plurality of character keys on the keypad prior to subsequent input of characters that form a radio station channel based on at least one of the following: the user selection of the band, precedent user input of the plurality of enabled character keys, or the plurality of characters that form radio station channels; and   tuning of radio stations based on receiving user input of the plurality of enabled character keys that form radio station channels.   
     
     
         19 . A computer readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein a user input corresponding to a radio tuner initializes a radio tuner interface system and corresponding radio tuner user interface for inputting characters that form a radio station channel on the plurality of character keys on the keypad and tuning in the user inputted radio station channel based on the characters entered. 
     
     
         20 . A computer readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein enabling and disabling of the plurality of character keys on the keypad as a user inputs characters that form radio station channels based at least one of: internally stored data of characters associated to characters that form active radio station channels that are in broadcast range of the location in which the vehicle is located, externally stored data of characters associated to characters that form active radio station channels that are in broadcast range of the location in which the vehicle is located, or live scanning data of characters associated to characters that form active AM or FM channels of radio stations that are in broadcast range of the location in which the vehicle is located.